Escapement mechanism



M y 1952 R. H. sco'r'r ETAL' 2,597,955

ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Filed April 26, 1947 Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Application April 26, 1947, Serial No. 744,058

In Great Britain April 29, 1946 6 Claims.

1 This invention relates to the escapement mechanism of typographical composing machines such as those known commercially under the registered trade-mark Linotype. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to escapement mechanism which includes escapement levers formed in one with their respective pallets.

In escapement mechanism of this kind an escapement lever has hitherto been mounted in the machine so as to swing in a groove formed within a part of the matrix magazine or the escapement lever has been formed with a curvilinear slot by which it has been guided upon a rod or rods traversing the said slot. The object of the present invention is to provide improved means for mounting and operating the escapement lever.

According to the invention an escapement mechanism comprises an escapement lever adapted to release a matrix from a magazine and a roller on which the escapement lever is mounted. Thus, friction and eventual wear of the mechanism is reduced. Means for re-' movably supporting the roller are provided thus facilitating easy removal of the escapement lever. The escapement mechanism may comprise a plurality of escapement levers adapted to release matrices from a magazine, a plurality of removable transverse rods, and a series of rollers mounted along each transverse rod so that one escapement lever is mounted on one roller on each transverse rod. The undersurface of each escapement lever may be rounded to co-operate with a concave surface formed on each roller.

For a detailed description of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings wherein the invention has been shown merely in a preferred form and by way of example. Obviously, however, many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of application which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the lower end of a magazine showing an escapement lever in normal position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing an escapement lever when operated for releasing the lowermost matrix contained in the corresponding magazine channel, and

Figure 3 is a part plan view showing the escapement levers mounted onroller bearings.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, two support bars I are secured by screws 2 to the under members 3 forming part of a matrix magazine 4. Screws 5 carried by the members 3 and bearing against the support bars I are also provided for fine adjustment of the position of the support bars. Each support bar I is provided with open bearings 6 for carrying a rod 1 which extends for a distance corresponding to the width of the magazine 4. On each rod 1 there is loosely mounted a plurality of rollers 8 made of hardened steel or, any other suitable material, there being a roller 8 on each rod 1 for each escapement lever 9 (see Figure 3).

Each escapement lever 9 is formed with pallets 9a. and 9b and controls the release of matrices l9 from adjacent channels in the magazine 4, there being only one such channel [I illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Each escapement lever 9 is in the form of an arc-shaped body and the convex undersurface thereof rests on the rollers 8 so as to be rockable thereon. The convex undersurface of each escapement lever 9 is rounded as at 12 to co-operate effectively with each roller 8 which is shrouded or is formed with a concave surface I3 (see Figure 3) A crossbar I4 parallel to the rods 1 is arranged to engage with the upper concave surfaces of the escapement levers 9 so as to act as a guide during the rocking thereof. Banking surfaces l5 formed in the concave upper surface of each escapement lever 9 come into contact with the undersurface l6 of the magazine 4 when the escapement lever has been rocked from one position to another (i. e. to and from the positions indicated in Figures 1 and 2) and prevent any further movement or displacement of the escapement lever.

To release a matrix I!) from the magazine 4 a striker I1 is actuated in known manner to press against a plunger l8 which in turn presses against a projection l9 formed on an escapement lever 9 in opposition to the action of a spring plunger 20 hearing against the other side of the projection l9. The escapement lever 9 is thus moved from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 and. the lowermost matrix 19 is released. The escapement lever 9 subsequently returns to the position shown in Figure 1 in which the pallet 9a holds the succeeding matrix I0. The mounting and rocking of the escapement levers 9 on the rollers 8 ensures a smooth and efiicient working of the escapement mechanism and a reduction in the 3 amount of friction and wear occurring in the parts thereof.

To remove the escapement levers 9 the magazine 4 is inverted, the screws 2 are removed and the support bars i complete with rods I and rollers 8 are lifted away, so leaving all the escapement levers 9 free for individual removal.

In a typographical composing machine in which the escapment levers are carried by a frame or escapement bar mounted in a magazine carrying frame and independent of the magazine,

- two support bars I may be secured to such escapement bar. To remove the escapement levers 9, the escapement bar is withdrawn and inverted to allow the screws 2 and support bars I to be removed.

Having described our invention, we declare that what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Escapement mechanism for a typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of escapement, lever arranged side by side and each mounted to rock in a curved path and formed at its front and rear ends with lower convex surfaces, and a corresponding plurality of independent. pairs of rollers, upon which the escapement levers rest by gravity and by which they are, supported in place, the rollers of each pair being arranged in rolling contact with the front and rear lower convex surfaces of the corresponding escapement lever.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the front rollers of all the different pairs are mounted for free rotation upon a transverse supporting rod common to them all, and wherein the rear rollers of all the difierent pairs are mounted for free rotation upon a second transverse supporting rod common to them all.

3-. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the two supporting rods are mounted in separate removablesupporting bars.

4. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear lower convex surfaces of each escapement lever are rounded in a transverse direction, and wherein the rollers of each pair are circumferentially grooved and concaved transversely for contact with said rounded convex surfaces of the escapement lever.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein each of the escapement levers is formed between its front and rear lower convex surfaces with a lug extending downwardly between and beyond the two rollers, and including two series of actuating plungers, those of one series being slidably supported beneath the front rollers of the difierent pairs with their rear ends in engagement with the depending lugs of the corresponding escapement levers to rock said levers to their matrix releasing positions, and those of the other series being spring loaded and slidably supported beneath the rear rollers of the different pairs with their forward ends in engagement with the depending lugs of the corresponding escapement levers to rock said levers to their normal or matrix holding positions.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the front series of actuating plungers and the front series of rollers are mounted in a common removable supporting bar, and wherein the rear series of actuating plungers and the rear series of rollers are mounted in a separate common removable supporting bar.

RICHARD HENRY SCOTT. ARTHUR S'I'l ilfllIlAND HAYWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 925,754 Converse June 22, 1909 1,123,463 Anderson Jan. 5, 1915 1,156,033 Orpen Oct. 5, 1915 1,192,620 Goodbody July 25 1916 1,586,317 McNamara May 25, 1926 

